Minoan Wall Painting of Pseira, Crete: A Goddess Worshipped in the Shrine

Description

This study presents evidence for restoring the fragmentary painting from Pseira. It argues against previous reconstructions, finding errors including ignoring the fragments’ scales. With the fragments’ scales accurately recorded, the study reveals a large-scale goddess facing a smaller suppliant in a presentation scene on an incurved altar platform. The reconstruction is based on examinations, drawings, and photographs taken to scale of the fragments and digital imaging. The painted garments are translated into modern cloth replicas that adorn live models that pose as goddess and suppliant. Virtually restored to the east wall of Room 6, the goddess positively establishes the building already conjectured as a shrine and identifies it as the religious center of the community. The painting’s Knossian style and technique, and imported Knossian ritual vessels, argue for a strong Knossian religious presence at Pseira. Knossian style religious processions likely culminated at the shrine to present offerings to the goddess.
Introduction; 1. History and Previous Reconstructions of the Painted Plaster Relief Fragments; 2. New Reconstruction of the Painted Plaster Relief Fragments; 3. Translating the Painted Garments into Cloth Replicas; 4. Knossian Presence at Pseira; 5. Religion and Ritual at Pseira; Conclusions; References; Index

Paperback: 116pp., 97 figures in the text (INSTAP Academic Press, 2024)

ISBN 978-1-931534-39-0